Melbourne PD Busts Teen Car Burglar Suspects

eyewitness detects suspicious activity

ABOVE MAP: Melbourne police located a black Toyota convertible with an inoperable taillight in the parking lot of the Shull Manor Apartments on University Boulevard. The vehicle was occupied by five black male teenagers, ages 13 to 16, according to police.

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – An eyewitness to suspicious activity in his neighborhood helped Melbourne Police capture four suspected car burglars early this morning, all minors 16-years old or younger, according to the Melbourne Police Department.

HERE’S THE MELBOURNE POLICE DEPARTMENT ACCOUNT:

Melbourne Police received a call at 12:08 a.m. from a man who said he saw a slow moving car come down Bayberry Drive and stop in the roadway. A group of black male teenagers then exited the car, walked up the driveway to a nearby residence and pulled on the homeowners car door handle.

An eyewitness to suspicious activity in his neighborhood helped Melbourne Police capture four suspected car burglars early Friday morning, all minors 16-years old or younger, according to the Melbourne Police Department.

The caller yelled at the teens to alert them that they were being watched. The group then got back in their vehicle, a dark color convertible with a broken taillight, and left the area.

A short time later, an officer located a black Toyota convertible with an inoperable taillight in the parking lot of the Shull Manor Apartments on University Boulevard. The vehicle was occupied by five black male teenagers, ages 13 to 16.

As officers investigated the possibility that the teens were trying to break into the car on Bayberry Drive, a resident on Oak Lake Road called police to report their car had been broken into during the night and a cell phone was taken. Officers now located that victim’s cell phone in the suspects’ Toyota.

Later in the morning, another victim called and said their wallet and GPS unit was stolen from a car on Turpial Way. These stolen items were also located in the vehicle that officers stopped at Shull Manor.

Four of the five teenagers, all from Melbourne, were arrested for burglary, attempted burglary and theft. Two of the arrested teens were taken to the Juvenile Detention Center. The other two arrested teens were released to family members.

Anyone with information about the investigation is urged to call CRIMELINE at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).

The Melbourne Police Department would like to remind everyone to lock their car doors when left unattended. A majority of thefts from vehicles are a result of suspects pulling multiple car door handles, searching for the ones that are unlocked.

The Melbourne Police Department is currently investigating this incident and more information may be available at a later time. If you have any information please call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477)